B&Q is set to slash over 650 jobs as it seeks to “simplify” its retail structure.

The business is seeking to reduce its number of deputy manager, trading manager and team leader positions throughout its 318 shops and head office, Retail Week reported. 

If the DIY company’s plans are approved, 672 roles will be axed, mostly across its stores, while a further 65 will be cut from its head office.

B&Q is consulting with workers impacted by the cuts and is set to offer alternative roles or support packages to staff who cannot be provided with a new position.

B&Q CEO Graham Bell said: “Over the last few years, we’ve evolved at pace to ensure that we can give our customers the very best retail experience. We’ve physically changed our operations so that our stores, apps and online are fully integrated helping home improvers by giving them more choice, speed and convenience. And we need to keep changing.

“In this dynamic world of retail, we are very much in control of shaping our future. Today’s news would ensure that we continue to evolve and grow market share, by prioritising our resources where we can help our customers most.”

He continued: “The proposals shared with colleagues today – to simplify our retail leadership structure and reallocate time to customer service roles on the shop floor, and to change some head office teams – have meant some difficult choices.

“They impact our dedicated colleagues in retail leadership across all of our stores and in head office functions, and we’ll be doing everything we can to support them.

“Ultimately it is about setting our business up in the right way so that our colleagues are equipped to give our customers consistently exceptional customer service now and in the future, so that we give home improvers the choice and convenience they deserve.”

The news comes despite B&Q driving a sales surge at its owner Kingfisher in May, thanks to the spring heatwave.

In March, B&Q boosted pay for more than 15,000 store employees, with the retailer claiming that the new rates were among the highest of all major UK retailers.

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